Cleaning and grading machine for oranges.



Patented Dec. I7, l90l.

W. W. JACOBS.

CLEANING AND GRADING MACHINE FOR ORANGES.

(Application filed Jan. 16, 1901.

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(No Modal.)

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Patented Dec. I7, I90].

(Application filed Jan. 16, 1901.

(No Model.)

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WVILLIAM \VINFIELD JACOBS, OF BRAIDENTOVVN, FLORIDA.

CLEANING AND GRADlNG MACHINE FOR ORANGES.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,089, dated December 17, 1901.

Application filed January 16, 1901. Serial No. 43,441. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WINFIELD JACOBS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Braidentown, in the county of Manatee and State of Florida, have invented a new and Improved Cleaning and Grading Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a cleaning and grading machine designed especially for handling oranges, and by this means oranges of various sizes may be thoroughly brushed and cleaned and afterward graded according to their size and delivered into separatehoppers or bins provided for their reception.

This specification is a specific description of one form of the invention, while the claims are definitions of the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be'had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the upper part of the machine, the section being taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line at 4 of Fig. 5; and Fig. dis a sectional view taken approximately on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, the view being extended, however, to show the upper end of the brace at the lower end of the revolving brush.

The machine has a suitable framing comprising upright braces or bars a, arranged to support at their upper ends a circular trough a, divided into a number of separate hoppers by walls a standing vertically therein, these hoppers being open at the top. The upper ends of the bars or standards aare connected by transverse braces a of the form shown, and the outer bars a are extended upward and inward to form the top portion a of the framing. The top a of the framing supports the upper end of a vertically-disposed stationary shaft a which passes downward centrally of the machine and has its lower end secured to the base of the machine.

Mounted to turn on the shaft a is the hub b of a wheel, the web I) of which is in the form of a table and the periphery of which is provided with a rubber or other yielding tire b The hub Z) is mounted between (301- lars a, fast on the shaft (1 and any suitable form of antifrictionbearings may be provided. The wheel I) is braced by rods b extending downward and inward to a sleeve b arranged to turn freely on the shaft a between collars a similar to the collars a The sleeve 12 also may be provided with antifriction-bearings of any sort to permit the wheel I) to turn freely around the shaft. Attached to the bars forming the top a of the framing of the machine are a number of clamps 0 which carry, through the medium of yielding arms 0 two sets of brushes cand c. The brushescstand' Vertically and, taken together, form a circular guide, with the bristles inward, as best shown in Fig. 2, such guide being open at one side to permit the entrance and exit of the oranges. The brushes 0 are disposed horizontally and are curved, as best shown in Fig. 3, so as to engage the upper sides of the oranges passing beneath them. These brushes 0 are also arranged in circular form corresponding with the arrangement of the brushes 0. It will thus be seen that these brushes form, essentially, a tunnel through which the oranges are caused to pass, and by an engagement with the bristles of the brushes the oranges are thoroughly cleaned. These brushes 0 and a being attached to the frame stand stationary while the wheel 1) turns.

Arranged to coact with the brushes 0 and c are rotary brushes cl, which are mounted each on a sleeve d, arranged to turn on a short shaft (1 This shaft d is held by arms (Z and (1 The arms 61 are joined to a common hub, and thus form a spider, the hub of which is arrangedloosely to embrace the shaft (i The arms d are attached to the under side of the table I) and have looped lower portions, as best shown in Fig. 5, which receive friction-pulleys d fastened on the sleeve d. Therefore the parts d, (1, dz, d d", and 01 turn bodily around with the table I), and the parts 01, d, and d are further capable of independent rotary movement around the respective axis d This movement is effected by a friction-wheel d fastened to the shaft a just below the table Z) and with which are connected the friction pulleys (F. From the above description it follows that as the table I) turns the brushes (1 have a circular movement with the table and also have an independent rotary movement. These movements are indicated by the various arrows in Fig. 2. The relative arrangement of the brushes 0, c, and d is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the passage between these brushes is adapted to have the oranges move therethrough. The oranges are indicated in this position in Fig. 2. A feed-chute e is provided to deliver the oranges onto the table I) in position to move through the passage formedby the brushes.

Supported over the wheel I) by hangers f is a guard f, disposed vertically and extending from the mouth of the feedchute 6 concentrically around the outer periphery of the wheel I) j ust over the cushion or tire 12 thereof. This guard f extends approximately one-half of the circumference of the wheel and is then turned outwardly, as indicated at f at which point the guard terminates. This .guard f forms an arc-shaped passage between itself and the outer sidesof the brushes 0 adjacent thereto, through which passage certain of the oranges are arranged to move, as will be hereinafter explained. The receiving end of said passagethat is to say, the end adjacent to the chute e-is closed by a buffer g, which is here shown to be in the form of a brush and is best illustrated in Fig. 2. Two rails h and dare supported outside of the periphery of the wheel I) by means of brackets 72 and t", respectively, which are carried on the radial braces a of the framing of the machine. These rails are of irregular form,-so that various lengths of each rail will be placed varying distances outward from the periphery of the wheel I). These irregular lengths of the rails correspond, respectively, with the hoppers formed in the troughs a by the partitions a Now the oranges bearing between the rails 71 and 'L' and the periphery of the wheel or rotating table I) will be sustained on these two parts as long as the oranges are larger in diameter than the distance between the rails and wheel. Should the oranges be smaller in diameter than this distance, the oranges will fall between the rails and wheel and into the hoppers provided below for the reception of the oranges. The rail 'i is arranged to receive the oranges which pass through the way or passage between the guard and the backs of the brushes 0, and the rail h is arranged to carry the oranges which are removed by hand from the wheel 17 and placed on the periphery of the wheel against the rail h, as shown at the right-hand side of Figs. 2 and 3. As here shown, the rails 72 and r' are connected by a short rail h which may, if desired, form continuations of the adjacent ends of the rails at the front side of the machine, and this short rail 72. carries the buffer g. (See Fig. 2.)

The wheel I) is adapted to be driven rapidly around its axis a This may be effected by any desired means. It is preferable, however, that the wheel be driven by foot-power, and for performing this work I have here shown a friction-wheel is, mounted on a suitable standard 76' and bearing against the cushioned periphery of the wheel or table I), so that the revolution of the wheel imparts a like movement to the wheel or revolving table b. For driving the wheel 70 I have illustrated a pedal 74: connected by a suitable gearing with the wheel 75. As shown in Fig. 2, there is a break in the framing at the front portion of the machine, in which break the operator may stand, and since the wheel 70 is driven by foot-power the hands of the operator will be free to handle the oranges.

In using the invention the feed-chute e is connected with a suitable hopper or other receptacle of the oranges which are to be cleaned and sorted or graded. The oranges are fed to the table between the brushes 0, c, and d, and the table is set to revolving. The revolution of the table carries the oranges through the circular way formed by the brushes and at the same time subjects them to a vigorous brushing action. The oranges after traversing the way run out on the outer part of the wheel or table I) and there engage the butter-brushes where they rest for an instant notwithstanding that the table may continue turning. The operator then sorts the oranges according totheir color. Generally there are two color grades of oranges, technically known as russets and brights. One of these grades of oranges is manually placed in the way formed by the guardfand the brushes 0, and the other is placed on the rail h and the periphery of the wheel 1). Within a machine constructed as here shown I have generally placed the russets on the rail h and the brights inside of the guard f. The revolution of the wheel I) now rolls the oranges along the rail h, and they are gradually graded and dropped into the respective hoppers, owing to the irregular form of the rail hand the varying dis tances between said rail and the periphery of the wheel I). The other oranges after running beyond the guardfpass onto the rail?) and are graded in the same manner. This operation is kept up continuously, the oranges being first brushed and cleaned and then manually placed in their respective runs, where they are automatically sorted and graded by the movement of the wheel I), which at the same time is polishing other oranges.

It will thus be seen that the machine automatically cleans and grades the oranges and that this work may be effected much more rapidly and accurately than by hand. While the machine is especially adapted for use in connection with oranges,it will be obvious that various other articles, particularly fruits, may be treated by it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination of a framing, stationary brushes carried thereby, a wheel or rotating table and rotary brushes acting in con- IIC junction with the stationary brushes, the said rotary brushes being carried by the table and having movement independent thereof.

2. The combination of a framing, brushes held thereby in curved alinement, a wheel or rotating table arranged under the brushes to work therewith, a rotary brush carried by the table and working with the first-named brushes, and means for imparting to the rotary brush a movement independent of the movement of the table.

3. The combination of a framing, a wheel or table mounted thereon, a number of stationary brushes held by the framing adjacent to the table and arranged in circular alinement, a feedchute, a number of rotating brushes carried by and moving with the table, the rotating brushes coacting with the firstnamed brushes to form a circular tunnel or passage, and means for driving the rotating brushes independently of the movement of the table.

4E. The combination of a framing, a wheel or table arranged to turn therein, brushes arranged to clean the material worked and forming with the surface of the table a passage for the material, the said brushes comprising two sets of stationary brushes carried by the framing and forming respectively the top and outer side of said passage, and a set of brushes carried by the rotating table and forming the inner side of the passage, a feed-chute for directing the material to one end of said passage, and a stationary buffer in the form of a brush arranged near the periphery of the table and adapted to engage the material after it leaves the other end of said passage, as set forth.

5. The combination of a framing, a wheel mounted therein, a number of hoppers arranged below the wheel adjacent to the periphery, a stationary guard carried by the frame and extending around a portion of the Wheel adjacent to and within the periphery, two rails one forming a continuation of the guard and extending around the portion of the wheel opposite the guard, and the other extending outside of and adjacent to the guard, said rails being of irregular form and having various portions arranged at varying distances from the periphery of the wheel and means for supporting said rails from the framing, for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of a framing having an opening at the front, in which the operator may stand, a wheel mounted to turn in said framing, means for driving the wheel, hangers carried by the framing, a guard supported by the hangers and extending around a portion of the wheel adjacent to the periphery, anda rail arranged outside of the said guard and spaced from the periphery of the wheel, the said rail having an irregular form as set forth.

7. The combination of a framing, a wheel mounted to turn in said framing, a verticallydisposed guard supported by hangers connected with the framing and extending concen trically around a portion of the wheel, one end of the guard being turned outward, and a rail extending from the outward-turned end of the guard, and supported from said framing outside the periphery of the Wheel, the said rail having various portions arranged at varying distances from the periphery of the wheel, as set forth.

8. The combination of a framing, a wheel or table arranged to turn therein, two sets of brushes held stationary by the framing and above the wheel,the members of one set standing vertically and the other set horizontally and the brushes being arranged in circular alinement, rotating brushes coactin g with the stationarybrushes and mounted on the wheel, and means for driving the rotating brushes independently of the movement of the wheel.

9. The combination of a framing, brushes held thereby in curved alinement, a wheel or rotating table arranged under the brushes and working therewitlnthe peripheryof said wheel being provided with a yielding tire, a frictionwheel engaging the yielding periphery of the wheel or table, and means for driving the friction-wheel as set forth.

10. The combination of a framing, a wheel or table arranged to turn therein, stationary brushes carried by the framing and arranged above the wheel, rotary brushes carried by the wheel or table and working with the firstnamed brushes, friction pulleys connected with the said rotary brushes, and a frictionwheel engaging the said pulleys for imparting independent rotary movement to the said brushes as the wheel or table turns, as set forth.

11. The combination of a framing, a wheel or table,a stationary shaft on which said wheel or table is mounted to turn, means for turning said wheel or table, stationary brushes carried by the framing and located above the table, the brushes being arranged in circular alinement, short vertical shafts extending through the table and carried thereby, sleeves mounted to turn on said short shafts, rotary brushes mounted on the said sleeves and coacting with the stationary brushes,and means for turning the said sleeves to rotate the said rotary brushes, as set forth.

12. The combination of a framing, a wheel or rotating table mounted therein, brackets carried by said framing, and a stationary rail supported by said brackets and arranged adjacent to the periphery of the wheel, and being of irregular form, various portions of the rail lying at varying distances from the periphery of the wheel, as set forth.

13. The combination of a framing, a wheel or table arranged to turn therein, brushes arranged adjacent to the table to clean the ma terial worked and forming with the surface of the table a passage for the material, a feedchute for directing the material to one end of said passage, a stationary buffer arranged near the periphery of the table and adapted &

to engage the material after it leaves the other end of said passage, and a guard extending around a portion of the wheel adjacent to the periphery and forming a passage between itself and the outer sides of the adjacent brushes, the said buifer being arranged to close one end of said passage, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM WINFIELD JACOBS.

Witnesses:

H. O. STANCLIFF, R. H. JOHNSON. 

